How Motivating Are You?
As a business leader with a busy schedule, you want to motivate your team, have them do their best work, and, most importantly, you want to retain talent. High turnover is often due to workplace discontent and the opportunity to increase salary or have a better title.
As a leader, you are busy. One of the most effective ways to retain your team members is to create individual development plans (IDPs) for every person on your team. This may seem like another task added to your to-do list, but it is an investment that will pay dividends overall.
Creating IDPs for each member will help you retain your top talent, build a stronger team, and develop a culture of growth and development that will benefit your company for years to come. You are investing in each of your team members' future, which is an easy way to keep people engaged, productive, and committed to your company.
The first step in creating a great individual development plan is to set up meetings with your direct reports and ask them about their personal and professional vision and goals. What do they want to accomplish ten, five, or three years from now? Encourage them to describe their aspirations in detail, including who they want to be, what they want to achieve, and how these changes will impact their personal life. Use questions that start with "what" and "how" to get them to tell you more about their goals. As they share their aspirations with you, take notes or type out what they say. The goal is for them to feel that their dreams are heard and valued.
After your meeting, give the notes you created to your team members and have them write out a plan that outlines specific actions they will take to achieve their goals. The IDP should include both short-term and long-term objectives that are measurable and realistic.
As a leader, you must support and encourage your team members to pursue their dreams by providing the resources they need to succeed. This may include access to training, mentorship, or networking opportunities.
Remember, the IDP is not just a document but a commitment to help your team members grow and develop. Regularly check in with your team members about their IDPs and ask them questions about the progress you are making on their goals. This will show them that you care about their success and that you are a mentor to help them advance in their career and life.
By creating individual development plans for each person on your team, you are building a culture of engagement, growth, and development. Your team will be more motivated, productive, and committed to your company. Then, when the time comes for your team members to consider other opportunities, they will think twice before leaving your organization because you are invested in their future at your company. Remember, happy and supportive leaders make successful leaders! If you would like to learn more techniques to help your team, contact Tia today!
Arrive At Happy's mission is to inspire transformation through the science of happiness. Tia Graham, founder, partners with organizations and individuals to increase their daily happiness and success in all areas of their lives. Relying on science-backed empirical data, she has gained the insight needed to prove and teach that happiness indeed leads to success.
Tia has a Certificate in Happiness Studies and a Certificate in Teaching Happiness from Harvard's Tal Ben-Shahar and The Happiness Studies Academy. She is a Certified Chief Happiness Officer from Woohoo Inc., Europe's premier Happiness at Work organization.